Workforce diversity is not a matter of social responsibility or obligation but a proven asset that strengthens your business. Creating equitable workplaces starts with fair opportunities for all your employees and removing obstacles to employment that marginalized groups like American workers with disabilities may face. This year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme, Disability: Part of the Equity Equation, hits home on this effort, representing a continued call to action. It’s a time to recommit to the hard work of advocating for better employment opportunities and outcomes for workers with disabilities.

Individuals with disabilities are often a forgotten piece of the diversity puzzle, which is why the unemployment rate for this valuable talent pool remains twice the national average – a rate of 7.8%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.[1] As an Association, we remain deeply committed to changing employment outcomes and educating our Members on workforce transformation strategies, fair pay efforts, and inclusive hiring across all talent pools.

During NDEAM, DirectEmployers will have informative webinars, unique perspectives in blog posts, and even a great conversation in our DE Talk podcast. As you put your plans in place to celebrate, here are a few resources you can utilize to join us in this important fight:

• Download or Order the NDEAM Poster
• NDEAM Social Media Kit
• NDEAM Drop-In Articles
• Sample NDEAM Proclamation
• Sample NDEAM Participation Press Release
• Beyond NDEAM: Year-Round Employer Strategies for Advancing Disability Inclusion
• Download Previous NDEAM Posters

For years, Executive Director Candee Chambers has said, “Disabilities don’t discriminate!” Therefore, you can legally target your hiring efforts toward individuals with disabilities because disabilities can affect anyone – females, underserved populations, veterans, and LGBTQIA+ communities. This equates to every protected class in the country, meaning these targeted hiring efforts will result in a diverse applicant pool.

Join us in continuing the legacy of generations of disability rights activists who have fought for equal employment opportunities, integrated workplaces, and equal pay for equal work, and deliver the promise of America by creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplaces for all.

[1] https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm

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Jaime Costilow

Jaime Costilow is the VP of Marketing for DirectEmployers Association. In her role she leads the marketing department through a hands-on approach in which she assists the marketing managers with content production, public relations, social media and strategy. She has been with the Association since 2012. Full Bio »

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